Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 72284 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 361(@200wpm)___ 289(@250wpm)___ 241(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72284 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 361(@200wpm)___ 289(@250wpm)___ 241(@300wpm)
The driver’s head is against the steering wheel.
Grabbing his hair, I lift his head, and I recognize him immediately.
Dmitri Barakov.
Aleks’ younger brother.
I’ve been wondering when he would show up.
He’s not a part of the bratva. But he knew who his brother was and what he could do. Of the pain he could inflict.
This is almost a relief.
Because this attack wasn’t on Brooke.
“I suppose this is retaliation for your brother.”
“You take from me, I take from you.”
I am my gun at him. “You missed.”
Blood coats his teeth from his bloody lip as he smiles. “Your time will come, mudak.”
“Good luck doing it from hell. Say hi to your brother for me.”
I pull the trigger and put him to sleep for good.
44
LEV
I take Brooke back to the house and pour her a vodka. But she refuses.
“I feel nauseous,” she says, her voice too monotone for my liking.
Is she going into shock?
I hand her a cool bottle of water from the bar, then drain the vodka myself, pouring a second to help dampen the rage funneling through my veins.
I’m seething with a violent wrath, and for the very first time in my life, I feel like it is getting the better of me. Worming its way into my brain and writhing under my skin like a parasite, squirming and feasting on the last of my humanity. I usually have better self-control, but tonight, I can’t shake the wild and unrelenting fury battering against my emotions.
Because this is your fault.
You put her in jeopardy tonight.
Pain twists in my jaw, and I realize I’m clenching my teeth.
“I’ve called for a doctor. He’ll be here in a few minutes,” I say.
“I told you I’m fine. I’m just rattled.”
I crouch in front of her and put my hands on her knees.
She’s shaking.
“Who did this?” she asks.
“Someone who has seen his last sunrise.”
She doesn’t know I’ve already put a bullet in the person responsible.
“Was it Vlad? In retaliation for you shooting him?”
I tenderly reach for her hands. “No.”
She huffs out a breath as she focuses on the engagement ring on her finger. “I’m in danger, aren’t I?”
Her words kill me. My body stiffens with rage.
“No. I will make sure you never are.”
She sobs, and I pull her into my arms. “Don’t cry, angel. You are safe with me.”
She nods, but she doesn’t believe me.
At least when the doctor arrives, she’s stopped shaking. Although she’s retreated into herself and gone very quiet, and I feel a weighty guilt on my shoulders.
“I don’t need a doctor,” she snaps. But I insist, and she doesn’t have the energy to fight me.
It takes the doctor thirty minutes to finish his examination while I pace the vintage rug because I need to burn off this fire raging in every cell of my body.
The doctor is certain she doesn’t have any concussion or anything lingering after the impact. But he gives her a sedative to help relax her.
“A good night’s sleep and she’ll wake up feeling better. But if you’re concerned, call me,” he says.
He’s been my doctor since I was born, and I trust him implicitly.
I walk him to the door and shake his hand. “Thank you for coming at such short notice.”
He nods and covers my hand with his. “I don’t know her, but from what I’ve seen tonight, she’s tough. She’ll be fine.”
He smiles, and for the first time since the collision, my shoulders relax.
After he leaves, I help Brooke to her room.
“Will you stop fussing,” she says when I put my arm around her and guide her toward the bed. “Anyone would think I was dying.”
She’s trying to make light of it, but it falls flat between us. Because we both know she almost did.
“Do you need to talk about this some more?” I ask.
She shakes her head. “I just need to sleep.”
She starts to remove her dress, but I take over, and again, she doesn’t fight me.
I help her out of her dress and then her shoes until she’s left in nothing but her tiny panties and bra. But not even the sight of her luscious body can dampen the swell of rage inside me.
For what could have happened.
That’s when I see it. Bruising on her arm from the car wreck. I falter, stopped by a rage so blinding I don’t know how to contain it. Outwardly, I’m unreadable. But inside, I’m a tornado of violent thoughts.
“Lev…”
Her sweet voice brings me back. I force a smile and tuck a lock of her hair behind her ear. I need to get out of this room now. I need to hunt down Dmitri’s dead body and riddle it with bullets to calm this rage. One quick bullet to the skull doesn’t seem enough when I see Brooke’s beautiful body streaked with bruises.
“Get some sleep. We’ll talk in the morning.”
She lies down, and I pull the covers over her.